Frustration finally ends as Edmondson wins title

March 02, 1992|By Derek Toney | Derek Toney,Staff Writer

For Edmondson, the frustration is over.

The Redskins had not won a basketball title since the 1969-70 season, when, led by Marvin Webster, they shared a crown with Forest Park. And they had been disappointed last year, losing the Maryland Scholastic Association B Conference championship game to Carver, 67-53.

But yesterday, there was fulfillment.

No. 8 Edmondson defeated No. 9 Carver, 87-72, for the MSA B Conference crown in the opening game of the Metro Classic at the Baltimore Arena.

"It's a long season, and you have to play each game one at a time," said Edmondson coach James James. "The goal was to win the championship, and we did. After we lost our first two conference games [to McDonogh and Mervo], we could have gone one of two ways -- backward or forward. But we hung in together, and here we are."

It was a special win for Edison, a 5-foot-7 junior guard. He was named Most Valuable Player after setting a Metro Classic record with 12 steals, purging the memory of his subpar, 12-point performance in last year's final.

"This was a payback game for us," said Edison, who also had six assists. "Playing here gave no one a real advantage, so we had go out there and get a big lead early."

But Edmondson saw that lead dwindle. The Redskins were ahead 67-44 with less than seven minutes left in the game, but the Bears pulled within 77-70 with 58 seconds remaining.

Ross, who was 12 of 15 from the free-throw line, hit two foul shots to increase Edmondson's lead to nine. After Rodney Black's basket closed the gap to seven, the Redskins scored the game's final eight.

Bears coach Durce Jackson said: "We're a little disappointed, but we played an excellent team and they played a good game. We played well, especially in the second half, so I don't have any qualms. They did a good job being able to come this far, but they just were outclassed today."

In the second quarter, the Redskins began pulling away, taking the lead for the first time, 23-21, on a jumper on by Edison. That basket ignited a 17-6 run, increasing Edmondson's lead to 40-27 at halftime.

With Edmondson leading 52-34, Edison made his best steal, passing the ball behind his back -- while flying out of bounds -- to Rivers for a dunk.

"There won't be any Carver Bears chasing me in my sleep," Edison said. "Early last summer, Coach James gave us all shirts with 'Edmondson basketball 1991-92' on it, and the objective was not only to get back to the championship game, but to win it."